Approximating the Basset force by optimizing the method of van Hinsberg et al.

•A generalization of the optimization problem that arises in the method of approximation by exponentials of van Hinsberg et al.•A worked out list of parameters, ready for implementation.•An algorithm that couples the method of van Hinsberg et al. with state-of-the-art quadrature schemes for the window region.•Extensive testing to show that the method is accurate and can be used in practical particle-laden flow simulations.

In this work we put the method proposed by van Hinsberg et al. [29] to the test, highlighting its accuracy and efficiency in a sequence of benchmarks of increasing complexity. Furthermore, we explore the possibility of systematizing the way in which the method's free parameters are determined by generalizing the optimization problem that was considered originally. Finally, we provide a list of worked-out values, ready for implementation in large-scale particle-laden flow simulations.